Galvanic isolator

ABSTRACT

A galvanic isolator having a split circuit element, a polymeric substrate, a transmitter and receiver is disclosed. The split circuit element has first and second portions, the first portion being disposed on a first surface of the substrate and the second portion being disposed a second surface of the substrate. The transmitter receives an input signal and couples a signal derived from the input signal to the first portion. The receiver is connected to the second portion of the circuit element and generates an output signal that is coupled to an external circuit. The galvanic isolator can be economically fabricated on conventional printed circuit board substrates and flexible circuit substrates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No.11/512,034, filed on Aug. 28, 2006, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many circuit arrangements, a logic signal must he transmitted betweentwo circuits that must otherwise be electrically isolated from oneanother. For example, the transmitting circuit could utilize highinternal voltages that would present a hazard to the receiving circuitor individuals in contact with that circuit. In the more general case,the isolating circuit must provide both voltage and noise isolationacross an insulating barrier. Such isolation circuits are often referredto as “galvanic isolators”. One class of galvanic isolators is based ontransforming the logic signal to a light signal that is then transmittedto an optical receiver in the receiving circuit that converts theoptical signal back to an electrical signal. The transmitting andreceiving circuits are typically on separate substrates and connected toseparate power supplies. While a significant number of commercialgalvanic isolators are based on such optical transmission, opticalgalvanic isolators have a number of problems. For example, thesecircuits are electrically inefficient. Only a fraction of the signalpower can be converted to an optical signal using a light emitting diodeor similar device. At the receiver, the fraction of the power in thelight signal that is recovered by the photodetector is very small.Hence, optical galvanic isolators require high power and signalamplification. In addition, the level of isolation provided by thecircuits is limited by RF fields generated in the transmitting circuitand in the ambient environment, which are received by the circuitry inthe receiving circuit and which are not related to the signals that arebeing sent optically. In principle, a conductive barrier can be utilizedto shield the receiving circuit; however, such barriers block a portionof the light in the optical signal, and hence, further reduce theelectrical efficiency of the isolator.

To overcome these limitations and others, a class of galvanic isolatorsbased on one or more electrical transducers have been developed. Oneexample is a transformer. In these galvanic isolators, the transmitterdrives the primary winding of a transformer and the receiver isconnected across the secondary winding. Typically, the transmitter andthe two windings are constructed on a first semiconductor chip and thereceiver is constructed on a separate chip that is connected to thefirst chip by wire bonds or the like. The two transformer windings are,typically, deposited over the drive circuits on the first chip bypatterning two of the metal layers that are typically provided inconventional semiconductor fabrication processes.

The size of the transmitter chip is set by the size of the transformercoils, which typically require a significant area of silicon compared tothe drive circuitry. The cost of the semiconductor substrate is asignificant fraction of the cost of the isolator. This is a particularlysignificant problem in devices designed to operate at relatively lowfrequencies where large coils are required to provide the couplingbetween the transmitter and receiver. In addition, many applicationsrequire multiple independent galvanic isolators on a single substrate.Cross-talk between the isolators constructed on silicon substrates usingconventional semiconductor fabrication techniques is difficult to blockin a cost-effective manner because of fringe fields generated by onecoil being coupled to an adjacent coil. If the chips are separated by asufficient distance on the silicon substrate, the cost of the wastedsilicon becomes significant.

In addition to the wasted silicon area, devices constructed usingconventional silicon integrated circuit fabrication have limitationsthat are imposed by the design rules of the fabrication line and thelimitations as to materials that are allowed on that line. For manyapplications, the dielectric insulation between the coils of thetransformer must withstand voltages in excess of 1000 volts. Thethickness of dielectric that is available in conventional CMOSfabrication lines is insufficient to provide this degree of insulation.In addition, in some applications, it would be advantageous to provide aferrite layer between the coils of the transformer to improve thecoupling efficiency. However, the materials in question cannot beutilized in many conventional fabrication lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a galvanic isolator having a splitcircuit element, a substrate, a transmitter and a receiver. The splitcircuit element has first and second portions. The substrate includes aninsulating polymeric or polymeric/inorganic layer having first andsecond surfaces, the first and second portions are disposed on thesubstrate. The first portion of the circuit element can be disposed onthe first surface, and the second portion can be disposed on the secondsurface. Alternatively, both portions can be disposed on the firstsurface. The choice of configuration depends on the specific splitcircuit element being implemented. The transmitter receives an inputsignal and couples a signal derived from the input signal to the firstportion. The receiver is connected to the second portion of the circuitelement and generates an output signal that is coupled to an externalcircuit. In one aspect of the invention, the split circuit elementincludes a transformer having a primary coil that includes the firstportion and a secondary coil that includes the second portion. Inanother aspect of the invention, the split circuit element includes acapacitor having a first plate that includes the first portion and asecond plate that includes the second portion. In yet another aspect ofthe invention, the split circuit element includes a transmitting antennaand a receiving antenna; the transmitting antenna includes the firstportion, and the receiving antenna includes the second portion. Inanother aspect of the invention, the substrate is flexible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a galvanic isolator accordingto the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of a galvanic isolatoraccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a component coil that can be utilized toconstruct a galvanic isolator according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a galvanic isolator according to another embodimentof the present invention.

FIGS. 8-9 illustrate another embodiment of a component coil that can beutilized to construct a galvanic isolator according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a galvanic isolator according to another embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of a galvanic isolator accordingto the present invention.

FIGS. 12-13 illustrate another embodiment of a galvanic isolatoraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a galvanic isolator according toanother embodiment of the present invention that utilizes a shield.

FIG. 15 illustrates a portion of a sheet of galvanic isolators accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a galvanic isolator according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a top view of a galvanic isolator according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The manner in which the present invention provides its advantages can bemore easily understood with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrateone embodiment of a galvanic isolator according to the presentinvention. FIG. 1 is a top view of galvanic isolator 20, and FIG. 2 is across-sectional view of galvanic isolator 20 through line 2-2. Galvanicisolator 20 is includes a transmitter chip 21 and a receiver chip 22that are bonded to a substrate in which coils 23 and 24 have beenfabricated and connected to bond pads on the top surface of layer 34.Alternatively, transmitter chip 21 and receiver chip 22 may be attachedto a lead frame and connected by wire bonds to bond pads attached tocoils 23 and 24. Other packaging embodiments are possible as well. Coils23 and 24 form a transformer. The transformer coils are fabricated bylithographically patterning metal layers on the surface of a polymericsubstrate 33 that has sufficient thickness and insulationcharacteristics to withstand the voltages for which galvanic isolator 20is designed.

Each coil has an outer end and an inner end. Each of these ends must beconnected to the appropriate terminals on the transmitter or receiverchip associated with that coil. For each coil, one connection is made bya trace that is formed with the coil when the metal layer from which thecoil is patterned is etched and one connection is made by a patternedmetal layer on the outer surface of the substrate. For example, theconnection to the inner end 26 of coil 23 is made via trace 25 on theouter surface of insulating layer 34. The connection to the outer end ofcoil 23 is made via trace 27 that is patterned from the same layer ascoil 23. Trace 27 is connected to chip 22 by a vertical via throughlayer 34. Similarly, chip 21 is connected to the outer end of coil 24 bya trace 29 and vertical via 30, trace 29 being patterned from the samemetal layer as coil 24. The inner end of coil 24 is connected to chip 21by a trace 28 on the bottom surface of insulating layer 32 through aconducting via 31. Insulating layers may be added outside of the layersof metal including traces 25 and 28 to prevent electrical contactbetween traces 25 or 28 and outside conductors.

The structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be fabricated on a conventionalprinted circuit board fabrication line. Hence, the cost of galvanicisolator 20 is much less than that of a galvanic isolator constructedfrom silicon on a semiconductor fabrication line.

If wire bonding can be utilized, the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2can be simplified to two metal layers on a single substrate. Refer nowto FIGS. 3 and 4, which illustrate another embodiment of a galvanicisolator according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a top view ofgalvanic isolator 40, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of galvanicisolator 40 through line 4-4 shown in FIG. 3. Galvanic isolator 40 isconstructed from two metal layers that are deposited and patterned on apolymeric substrate 41 that has sufficient thickness to withstand thevoltage differences between the two circuits being isolated. The topmetal layer is patterned to provide coil 42 and the various connectionpads utilized by transmitter 21 and receiver 22. The bottom layer isused to fabricate coil 43, which underlies coil 42 and forms the secondcoil of the transformer. The bottom layer is also patterned to providetraces 44 and 45 that are used to connect coil 43 to wire bond pads 48and 49 on the top surface of layer 41 through vertical conducting vias46 and 47. Coil 43 is connected to transmitter 21 by wire bonds 51 and52.

Coil 42 is connected to receiver 22 by trace 53 that is patterned fromthe top metal layer and by wire bond 54. Finally, the various connectionpads for connecting galvanic isolator 40 to the external circuits thatare to be isolated by galvanic isolator 40 are also patterned from thetop metal layer. Exemplary connections pads of this type are shown at 55and 56.

As noted above, a galvanic isolator according to the present inventioncan be constructed using conventional printed circuit board fabricationtechniques. As will be explained in more detail below, embodiments basedon flexible organic/inorganic or organic substrates are particularlyattractive. Printed circuit boards or circuit carriers are known to theart, and hence, will not be discussed in detail here. For the purposesof the present discussion it is sufficient to note that printed circuitboards can be fabricated by depositing thin metal layers, or attachingmetal layers, on a somewhat flexible organic/inorganic substrate formedof fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin and then converting thelayers into a plurality of individual conductors by conventionalphotolithographic techniques. Flex circuit technology is also a usefulmeans of embodiment. Here substrates are made of an organic materialsuch as polyimide. Films and laminates of this type are availablecommercially from Dupont and utilize substrates called Kapton™ made frompolyimide and, in some cases, a plurality of layers are laminated withan adhesive. This type of circuit carrier or printed circuit board issignificantly less expensive than silicon substrate-based circuitry andcan be provided with relatively thin substrates. Thinner substrates arepreferred in applications in which signal losses between the primary andsecondary coils must be minimized. In one embodiment, a Pyralux APlaminate from Dupont that has a 2 mils thick Kapton™ layer and copperlayers on the top and bottom surfaces is utilized.

The above-described embodiments utilize a substrate on which both coilsof the transformer are fabricated by patterning and connecting variousmetal layers. However, in some situations, constructing a galvanicisolator from two separate transformer components provides significantadvantages. Refer now to FIGS. 5 and 6, which illustrate a componentcoil that can be utilized to construct a galvanic isolator according toanother embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a top view ofcomponent coil 60, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of componentcoil 60 through line 6-6. Component coil 60 is constructed from aninsulating substrate 62 having top and bottom metal layers. The toplayer is patterned to provide a coil 61 and a set of mounting pads formounting a chip 67. The top layer also includes traces for connectingcoil 61 to chip 67. The outer end of coil 61 is connected by a trace 63to chip 67, and the inner end of coil 61 is connected by a trace fromvia 64. The top layer is also patterned to provide traces such as trace66 for connecting chip 67 to external circuitry. The bottom metal layeris patterned to provide a conductor 68 that connects the inner end ofcoil 61 to via 64 by a second via 69.

Refer now to FIG. 7, which illustrates a galvanic isolator according toanother embodiment of the present invention. Galvanic isolator 70 isconstructed from two component coils 71 and 72 of the type discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6. Chip 75 on component coil 71 is areceiver, and chip 74 on component coil 72 is the correspondingtransmitter. The two component coils are bonded to an insulator 73.

In FIG. 7 the standoff voltage that the galvanic isolator can withstandis set by the thickness and composition of layer 73. Hence, galvanicisolators having different design standoff voltages can be constructedfrom the same component coils, which, in turn, reduces costs associatedwith maintaining inventories of components and increases the economiesof scale.

It should also be noted that layer 73 could include other materials thatenhance the coupling efficiency of the two coils. For example, inembodiments in which high frequencies do not have to be accommodated,layer 73 could include a ferrite material that increases the coilcoupling efficiency.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 has the disadvantage of having a largerdistance between the two coils, since the coils are now separated by thethickness of the insulating layer 73 and the thickness of substrate 62.Since the power coupling efficiency of the transformer decreases withincreasing distance between the coils, this loss in efficiency may beoffset by the improvements in the economies of scale achieved by havinga device constructed from two identical component coils.

Refer now to FIGS. 8-9, which illustrate another embodiment of acomponent coil that can be utilized to construct a galvanic isolatoraccording to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is atop view of component coil 120, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view ofcomponent coil 120 through line 8-8. Component coil 120 differs fromcomponent coil 60 in that coil 121 is on the bottom surface of substrate122 and is connected to the appropriate driver chip 123 by traces 125and 128 that are on the top surface of substrate 121. These traces areconnected to the ends of coil 121 by vertical vias 124 and 126.

Refer now to FIG. 10, which illustrates a galvanic isolator according toanother embodiment of the present invention. Galvanic isolator 130 isconstructed from two component coils on substrates 131 and 132.Component coil 135 on substrate 131 is of the type shown in FIGS. 8-9,and component coil 134 on substrate 132 is of the type shown in FIGS.5-6. The two component coils are bonded to an insulator 133. Since thecoils are not separated from the insulator by a layer of substrate, thisembodiment allows the coils to be closer together for any giventhickness of insulator 133.

Embodiments in which substrate 122 and the metal layers are part of aflexible circuit carrier have still further advantages. In some cases,the area available for mounting the galvanic isolator is limited. Thatis, the galvanic isolator must have a relatively small “footprint”. Insome of these cases, the area needed to implement the coils is largerthan the footprint in question. Hence, to provide a galvanic isolatorwith the desired footprint, the coils must be implemented in a verticalarrangement to reduce that amount of horizontal surface area needed tomount the isolator. A component coil design such as that described abovein which the component coils are constructed on a flexible circuitcarrier provides a cost effective solution to this problem.

Refer now to FIG. 11, which illustrates another embodiment of a galvanicisolator according to the present invention. Galvanic isolator 90 isconstructed from two component coil assemblies 91 and 92 that aresimilar to component coil 120 discussed above, except that thesubstrates are flexible. Each component coil includes coil 93 and a chipinterface for mounting either a transmitter 94 or a receiver 95. Thecomponent coil assemblies are bent at 90 degrees and bonded to aninsulating layer 96. Hence, the transformer is implemented out of theattachment plane and requires substantially less area.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention utilize a splittransformer arrangement to perform the isolation of the two circuits.However, embodiments that utilize other types of split circuit elementscan also be constructed. For example, isolators based on capacitors inwhich the transmitting circuit drives one plate of a capacitor and thereceiver is attached to the other plate of the capacitor can also beconstructed. Refer now to FIGS. 12-13, which illustrate anotherembodiment of a galvanic isolator according to the present invention.FIG. 12 is a top view of galvanic isolator 140, and FIG. 13 is across-sectional view of galvanic isolator 140 through line 13-13 shownin FIG. 12. Galvanic isolator 140 utilizes a split capacitor arrangementto isolate transmitter 143 from receiver 144. The capacitor has plates148 and 149. It should be noted that galvanic isolator 140 could beconstructed from a single polymeric layer 142 that has metal layersdeposited on the top and bottom surfaces thereof. Since only oneconnection is required at the edge of each plate of the capacitor, theproblems associated with routing the additional connection discussedabove with respect to the embodiments based on a split transformer areavoided. The connection to the bottom plate is provided by a trace 146that is connected to a trace 145 on the top surface of substrate 142 bya single vertical via. The connection to the top plate is provided bytrace 147.

It should also be noted that embodiments in which the transmitter andreceiver plates are on separate substrates could also be constructed.Such embodiments are similar to those described above with the coilsbeing replaced by the plates of the capacitor. Such two-substrateembodiments are useful in constructing embodiments that are analogous tothat discussed above with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 11.

Embodiments based on a split antenna arrangement could also beconstructed. In such embodiments, the capacitor plates described abovewith reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 are replaced by antennae that arefabricated by patterning the top and bottom layers metal layers. Morecomplex antenna designs depending upon multiple vias between the top andbottom metal layer for each arm of the antenna may be fabricated aswell.

In some cases, the galvanic isolators described above must function inenvironments having a significant amount of electrical interference.Since the split circuit elements used to construct the isolator can actas antennae that pickup this interference, embodiments that includeshielding are required to prevent the received interference fromaltering the data signals being sent between the transmitter andreceiver chips. Refer now to FIG. 14, which illustrates anotherembodiment of the present invention in which a shield is utilized. FIG.14 is a cross-sectional view of a galvanic isolator such as that shownin FIG. 4, above. A conducting shield 161 is attached to substrate 163by pads 162 that are patterned in the top and bottom metal layers. Itshould be noted that the shield cannot be too close to coils 165 and166. If the distance from the coils to the shield, h, is less than acritical distance that depends on the frequencies of the signals beingsent through the isolator, the shield will interfere with the operationof the isolator. In one exemplary embodiment having metal coil traces 1mil high and 5 mil wide a shield height, h, of 100 mil is more thansufficient to avoid interference with isolator operation while a shieldheight, h, of 10 mil is too low and thus interferes with deviceoperation.

It should be noted that the low cost of the substrates used in thepresent invention makes the incorporation of such shielding economicallyattractive. Refer now to FIG. 15, which illustrates a portion of a sheetof galvanic isolators according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. A number of galvanic isolators according to the presentinvention can be fabricated on a single sheet of a substrate having therequired number of metal layers. Exemplary galvanic isolators are shownat 201. Spaces 202 can be provided between the individual galvanicisolators to provide the attachment point for the top and bottom halvesof the shields. Since the substrate material is inexpensive, thesespaces to not substantially increase the cost of the resulting galvanicisolators. The shields can be formed of two sheets 203 and 204 of theappropriate material by stamping the sheets to provide the desired domeshape. The stamped sheets can then be attached to the substrate sheet.The completed sheet of galvanic isolators can then be singulatcd bycutting the shielded sheet of galvanic isolators. Hence, a large numberof galvanic isolators can be fabricated at once.

In the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the traceson the top and bottom surfaces of the galvanic isolator are exposed. Itis sometimes useful to provide a covering for the exposed traces toprotect the traces from damage. One method for providing a protectivecover layer is to utilize the polyamide layers used in flexible circuitcarriers such as those described above. Layers of polyamide that arccovered with an adhesive are available commercially from Dupont. Onesuch layer consists of a 0.5 mil layer of polyamide that is coated onone side with an adhesive that is 0.5 mil thick. The protective layercan be cut to provide holes in the layer that provide access to padsthat require electrical connection or that are used for bonding chipssuch as the transmitter and receiver chips discussed above. After thelayer is patterned, the protective backing is removed from the adhesivesurface and the layer is pressed onto the corresponding surfaces of thegalvanic isolator. The various wirebond connections and chip bonding isthen carried out.

Refer now to FIG. 16, which is a cross-sectional view of anotherembodiment of a galvanic isolator according to the present invention.Galvanic isolator 300 is similar to galvanic isolator 40 discussed abovein that it includes a top coil 342 and a bottom coil 343 that areconstructed by patterning metal layers on the top and bottom surfaces ofa polymer or polymer/inorganic substrate 341. The transmitter andreceiver chips 351 and 352 are bonded to traces shown at 353 and 354,respectively. The top coil is protected by a polymer layer 361 thatincludes an adhesive layer that is in contact with the metal layer andexposed underlying surface of substrate 341. Holes shown at 362 areopened in layer 361 to provide access to the bond pads used for the wirebonds and the transmitter and receiver chips. Similarly, an adhesivecoated polymer layer 371 is applied to the bottom surface of substrate341 to protect the bottom coil. To simplify the drawing, the individuallayers of the protective polymer layers 361 and 371 have been omitted.

As noted above, the split circuit element can be constructed from atransmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. In the embodimentsdescribed above, the first and second portions of the split circuitelement are disposed on different surfaces of the polymeric substrate.However, in the case of an antenna pair, the first and second portionscan be disposed on the same surface separated by a distance that issufficient to assure that the transmitting antenna does not arc to thereceiving antenna. Refer now to FIG. 17, which illustrates anotherembodiment of a galvanic isolator according to the present invention.Galvanic isolator 400 utilizes a pair of antennae disposed on polymericsubstrate 403. A transmitting chip 401 drives a transmitting antennashown having branches shown at 411 and 412. A receiving chip 402 picksup the signals received on a receiving antenna having branches 421 and422. It should be noted that branches 411, 412, 421, and 422 can betraces on substrate 403 or can be wires that extend outward fromsubstrate 403. Such wire can be wire bonded to pads connected to traceson substrate 403.

Various modifications to the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawings. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited solely bythe scope of the following claims.

1. A galvanic isolator comprising: a split circuit element having firstand second portions; a substrate comprising an insulating polymeric orpolymeric/inorganic layer having first and second surfaces, said firstportion and said second portion being disposed on said substrate; atransmitter that receives an input signal and couples a signal derivedfrom said input signal to said first portion; and a receiver connectedto said second portion that generates an output signal that is coupledto an external circuit; wherein said first portion is disposed on saidfirst surface and second portion being disposed on said second surface;wherein said split circuit element comprises a capacitor having a firstplate comprising said first portion and a second plate comprising saidsecond portion.
 2. A galvanic isolator comprising: a split circuitelement having first and second portions; a substrate comprising aninsulating polymeric or polymeric/inorganic layer having first andsecond surfaces, said first portion and said second portion beingdisposed on said substrate; a transmitter that receives an input signaland couples a signal derived from said input signal to said firstportion; and a receiver connected to said second portion that generatesan output signal that is coupled to an external circuit; wherein saidsplit circuit element comprises a transmitting antennae and a receivingantenna, said transmitting antennae comprising said first portion andsaid receiving antenna comprising said second portion.
 3. The galvanicisolator of claim 2 wherein said first portion and said second portionare disposed on said first surface.